Processed Foods — the Good and Bad

Processed foods are foods that have been altered from their natural state either mechanically and/or chemically. Food processing has been recorded throughout history to preserve and keep good foods available and edible for a time when food would be scarce.

Processing can be as minimal as chopping such as with bagged vegetables or roasted nuts. It can be as complex as addition of preservatives, sugars, salts etc., such as in a frozen ready-to-eat meal.

Types of Processing

Canning

Freezing

Refrigeration

Dehydration

Aseptic processing

The Good about Processed Foods

Many canned and frozen foods are processed at the peak of ripeness.

Canned and frozen foods fruits and vegetables are comparable in nutrition.

The Digestive Disorders Center (DDC) is a convenient point of access to the full range of digestive health care services available at UPMC. Our team has expertise in treatments for inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as swallowing disorders, gastrointestinal cancer, and liver, pancreatic, and biliary diseases.
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